DHARAMSALA, India, (Reuters) – India opener Lokesh Rahul’s elegant fifty and stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane’s quickfire 38 not out secured a series-clinching eight-wicket romp in the fourth and final test against Australia yestersday.
Wrapping up the win appeared a formality for India when their openers walked out at the picturesque venue nestled in the shadows of the Himalayas needing just 87 runs to seal the series 2-1 with all 10 second innings wickets intact.
While the miracle that Australia desperately needed did not materialise, paceman Pat Cummins injected brief excitement into the contest in his second over of the morning.
Murali Vijay, survivor of back-to-back lbw appeals from Josh Hazlewood, had looked a walking wicket all morning and the opener edged the first ball of that Cummins over to be caught behind for eight.
Five balls later, Cheteshwar Pujara belied his reputation as a good judge of singles and was run out without scoring when Glenn Maxwell, from point, threw down the middle stump at the non-striker’s end.
Australia did not get another chance to celebrate as Rahul and Rahane combined to complete India’s comprehensive victory with more than five sessions to spare.
Rahul made 51 not out, completing his sixth half century in seven innings when he scored the winning runs at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, marking its debut as a test arena.
Leading the side in the absence of injured skipper Virat Kohli, Rahane smashed a rapid unbeaten 38 off 27 balls, an innings of uncharacteristic aggression that included back-to-back sixes off Cummins.
India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who claimed 25 wickets to go with his couple of fifties, won the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series awards.
SEVENTH HEAVEN
The victory sealed India’s seventh series win in a row, dating back to their triumph in Sri Lanka in August 2015.
The victory also brought a successful end to India’s 13-test home season, in which they won 10, drew two and had the lone loss to Australia in the opener in Pune.
Kohli, who missed the final match with a shoulder injury, has already set his sight on rectifying India’s image as poor travellers.
“We are very happy with the number one ranking in the world but our main challenge begins now,” the 28-year-old said.
“If we can conquer the overseas season, that’s when you will see a broader smile on my face when I sit down for the press conference.”
Australia captain Steve Smith said his team gave a good account of themselves even if they could not win the series.
“I’m proud of the way we’ve been able to turn things around and really compete in these conditions. I know coming over here, I said it a few times, we’re being written off, we’d lose 4-0 and all that kind of stuff,” Smith said.
“But the way we’ve been out here competing in each and every test match, it’s been great to be part of a fantastic series.”
The series is likely to be remembered equally for the top quality cricket it served and the acrimony that surrounded it.
Kohli took the post-match news conference by surprise when he announced that his off-the-field friendship with the Australian cricketers was over. Smith, on the other hand, apologised for mouthing abuse after India’s Murali Vijay failed to catch Josh Hazlewood cleanly but still appealed.
